What is the newest installment of 'Random Thoughts' on Physics Forums?

[Evo]

Where'd you grow up ?

One of my earliest memories is the Miami Springs DDT truck spraying every tree ficus along the street where i lived. When it blasted the one in front of my house, a dozen or so kids came scrambling down amid a mix of shrieks and laughter . .
We moved our tree fort to the back yard.

old jim

I grew up in Houston, TX, they'd spray for mosquitos every Friday night.

 

[Tom.G]

(Referring to Page Files.)

Can one use a usb stick to do that ?

I haven't tried it, but probably not. The USB drivers are loaded rather late in the boot-up process so may not be available when the Page File is set up. Also, USB sticks are excruciatingly slow and would likely add to your frustration.

As "everybody says," hard drives are cheap these days. If you have the room in the box and connectivity for another drive, that's the easy way; just add a drive. More difficult is replacing your current drive with a larger one. Copying all your files and programs and patching the WIndows Registry to run on a new drive is possible but non-trivial. (Especially patching WIndows Registry.)

When Windows formats a drive, it writes a Unique ID (4 bytes) to an early, normally non-user-accesible, disk sector. It uses this ID in the registry to identify the various drives. And it is this 4 byte ID that is used to complete the boot process and to identify the 'system' drive. (For the technically adept the 4 byte ID is in the Master Boot Record (MBR) at offset 1b8 Hex. From a DOS Command line, execute a DIR command. The ID is shown as Volume Serial Number)

The software that comes with many new drives can copy everything from the old drive to the new, including Windows, but I haven't tried it that way so can't make any recommendation. My gut impression though, is if it didn't work the drive manufacturers would have an insurrection on their hands!

Of course the 'recommended' way is to install Windows on the new drive then re-install ALL your programs; often not a viable option.

 

[Asymptotic]

If the memory device happens to be writing for whatever reason at the time of removal it could cause corruption (because something that was meant to be written was only partially stored). The "Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media" is a guarantee that the device is not presently writing anything.

My gripe isn't in the benefits of disassociating a device from the OS before unplugging it - that's a good thing. What bugs me is this next-to-useless message.

The OS knows what it finds concerning, so why not tell me? If file(s) are open, tell me which ones, and where they are. Sometimes, it isn't a file lock at all, but a process has glommed onto the device. For instance, although it may no longer be so, several years ago Rockwell Software would grab onto any USB drive that was plugged in, held it in a death grip, and the only recourse was to reboot, or go through Task Manager, and kill (I believe it was three) of their processes. My guess is they were checking USB drives for software licenses, but never bothered to release the drives when none were found.

 

[Tom.G]

The OS knows what it finds concerning, so why not tell me?

Conjectured answer: "Such 'technical' info confuses and distracts the casual user. (refer to Apple Computer usage for extreme examples.) If we leave it out it may also cut down on inane Tech Support calls."

And I completely agree, exceeedingly maddening.

But considering this is PF, we likely are not 'casual users.'

 

[jim hardy]

Well
@Tom.G
i got brave and allocated 4000 meg of virtual memory space on E drive, the one carried over from previous computer. Will see if that helps.
Likely i'll plug in some more memory this week.

 

[WWGD]

They put the power outlets really low at 'Bux, a few inches from the floor. I often have to get down on my knees to plug in my power cord. I was this morning on my knees, this woman sitting in front of me, I asked her, since it seemed fitting: " Will you Marry me"? She walked out.

 

[WWGD]

I wonder if Germans get confused at people in U.S studying at "With" (MIT).

Ich studiere am MIT?

 

[fresh_42]

I wonder if Germans get confused at people in U.S studying at "With" (MIT).

We actually pronounce it əm aɪ tiː so the association isn't anywhere close. Those who can't say it right don't know it exists. Better ask why you call it M-I-T when it abbreviates M-E(nstitute)-T?

 

[WWGD]

We actually pronounce it əm aɪ tiː so the association isn't anywhere close. Those who can't say it right don't know it exists.

What if someone is wearing a sweater that just reads "MIT"? Would that be understood? Just that it would seem strange maybe by those who are not aware of it, to see a shirt with the word "with"

 

[WWGD]

What if someone is wearing a sweater that just reads "MIT"? Would that be understood? Just that it would seem strange maybe by those who are not aware of it, to see a shirt with the word "with"

Fresh, maybe you should always carry a t-shirt that reads " Mit was?" , in case you run into one of these people with the MIT shirt.

 

[fresh_42]

Probably not. In this case it's unclear what is meant. With ... what? But those cases are rare. I mean, whom do you expect to wear such a sweater? Likely former MIT students and then again it is within an environment where it is understood, the more as there is probably also the coat of arms (?) on it.

 

[WWGD]

Probably not. In this case it's unclear what is meant. With ... what? But those cases are rare. I mean, whom do you expect to wear such a sweater? Likely former MIT students and then again it is within an environment where it is understood, the more as there is probably also the coat of arms (?) on it.

Sorry, I still think wearing the " Mit Was?" t-shirt just in case is the best solution. But maybe you're right and most recognize the school. Strange that the word "with" would have a coat of arms associated with it, though, but maybe this is just my confusion..

 

[fresh_42]

Sorry, I still think wearing the " Mit Was?" t-shirt just in case is the best solution. But maybe you're right and most recognize the school. Strange that the word "with" would have a coat of arms associated with it, though, but maybe this is just my confusion..

https://museumstore.mit.edu/product/mit-classic-sweatshirt-hoodie-youth/

Maybe I should have written logo or icon. I used the dictionary.

 

[fresh_42]

But you gave me an idea. That's a nice conversation starter, as it leaves open with what. In doubt, I would plead "Brain" but some other more x-rated versions are thinkable.

 

[OCR]

I was...on my knees, this woman sitting in front of me...

How close were you ! ?

 

[dkotschessaa]

I'm addicted to oranges, so I have at least one orange every day, I also eat the peel. The peel, to me is the best part, yes, it has the most fiber, nutrients, and antioxidants, but I steep them in artificially sweetened green tea and OMG, it's like crack. I'd throw the orange sections away just to get to the peels, they are THAT GOOD!. That's my nightly treat, a big bowlful of diced orange peel in sweet tea.

I am waiting for December to get here because I am addicted to Cara Cara oranges, THE BEST ORANGES IN THE WORLD. They are only available from December to May, you might find a few in June, but the quality declines the closer to summer you get. Trust me on this. I also grow meyer lemons and love to eat them whole too.

Don't knock it until you've tried it!

I might have to try that orange peel thing as a sweetener, since I have to avoid sugar. (The actual orange is too sugary for me!)

 

[WWGD]

https://museumstore.mit.edu/product/mit-classic-sweatshirt-hoodie-youth/

Careful with the Trayvon (German?) issues with hoodies

How close were you ! ?

Yes, I know, it does look like something else from far away too... Still, within like 2 ft from her.

 

[fresh_42]

Careful with the Trayvon (German?) issues with hoodies.

The German word is "Wappen" as it is more than an icon or a simple logo. It is the same word which is used for heraldic figures. The similarity to "weapon" is not by chance, as they both share a common origin. It literally means "sign on the weapon" which were found on knights' shields and so on. That was why I avoided logo. Maybe emblem would have been an appropriate word.

 

[WWGD]

Seems like a trend: (for-profit)companies I have the least bit of contact with not just asking but almost demanding that I give feedback of all sorts re their performance in some area, often insisting, and, well, essentially demanding that I provide it to then. And for free. I have replied at times, asking them to compensate me if they want my feedback.

 

[WWGD]

Gotta remember : " There is a Jim in the building" $\neq$ " There is a gym in the building"

 

[WWGD]

I accidentally found a pretty good proxy for political affiliation: explanation for presence/absence of bathrooms in coffee shops ( not kidding)

When I comment to people that a new coffee shop in the corner does not have a bathroom, people whom I know are left-of-center will say something along the lines of:" They just want to make more money by not building it, they don't want you to stay there long". People towards the right will, OTOH say something like " Pretty sure is because people will trash the bathrooms in no time and will stay there indefinitely. ". Not quite a random, representative sample, but a pretty good match for a sample of n=12 people. EDIT: I fell somewhere in-between, considering both options.

 

[Evo]

Getting over a bout of E-coli (yes, I was tested) seems I got it from an ORGANIC salad bar. Never again.

 

[WWGD]

Getting over a bout of E-coli (yes, I was tested) seems I got it from an ORGANIC salad bar.

Get well soon. I have heard a few people who know about farming mention that there is no such thing; it is essentially impossible to grow crops without pesticides.

 

[Evo]

Get well soon. I have heard a few people who know about farming mention that there is no such thing; it is essentially impossible to grow crops without pesticides.

Thank you WWGD. From now on any raw vegetables I eat I will wash MYSELF. Next I will be diagnosed with a brain tapeworm, kid got it from eating a salad, saw it on the show "Monsters inside me". Ever seen that show? CRIPES!

 

[WWGD]

Every time I run into this guy, he offers me a breath mint/tictac. I don't know if he is being friendly or giving me a hint.

 

[OCR]

I don't know if he is being friendly or giving me a hint.

Yeah...

" To breathe or not to breathe? That is the question. " ..

 

[Apple_Mango]

I wish I knew how some of these people got banned in this board.

 

[fresh_42]

I wish I knew how some of these people got banned in this board.

Religious and totally meaningless contributions, which don't even qualify as art, are good attempts.

 

[jim hardy]

Religious and totally meaningless contributions, ...

And "Flaming" .

 

[Apple_Mango]

Religious and totally meaningless contributions, which don't even qualify as art, are good attempts.

What do you mean be that these people were banned for religion?